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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the distinction that Ressler makes for this murderer, according to his own description?

2. What is one of the things that detectives found in John's room when they went to search it?

3. Who was the master manipulator that did not tell Ressler anything new when they sat down to speak with each other?

4. John took a great deal of _________ in thinking about his crimes before and after they were committed.

5. What is the term that Ressler later coined in order to describe the people who sought out satisfaction from killing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the result of the interviews that Ressler had with Mason?

2. What happened with the larger criminal that Ressler attempted to interview in order to solve a crime?

3. Why did Vorpagel react quickly to the crime that was presented to him in this first case?

4. What are some of the consistent similarities that Ressler finds among serial killers?

5. What does Ressler find to be the relationship between serial killers and their mothers?

6. Why do many disorganized killers tend to not drive to their crimes?

7. What does Ressler find about the profile of serial killers and how they feel about their crimes?

8. What was found several blocks away after the murder of a family of three as well as their baby?

9. How did Charles Manson coerce others into killing for him?

10. Of what murder is Ressler notified when he is leading a seminar at Michigan State University?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Charles Manson does not give Ressler any new information when they sit down for an interview.

Part 1: Why do you think Manson is so good at keeping Ressler from discovering anything new?

Part 2: Do you think that Manson is a smart man?

Part 3: How do you think Manson might be able to be tricked into talking more about his actions?

Essay Topic 2

Ressler notes that he does not believe a disorganized killer is the biggest threat.

Part 1: Do you think an organized killer or a disorganized killer is the greatest threat?

Part 2: Why do you think an organized killer poses a threat to society more than a disorganized killer might?

Part 3: How do you feel now that you know how serial killers think and act?

Essay Topic 3

Many serial killers appear to be normal to the outside world, only showing their murderous sides when they are in the act.

Part 1: How can a person be normal at one time of their day and a murderer during another time?

Part 2: Why do you think a person might be compelled to kill?

Part 3: What are some of the advantages to appearing normal to the outside world for these killers?

(see the answer keys)

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